14 clever USB-C gadgets that do so much more than charge your phone

I don’t know how your tech drawers look, but mine are filled with wires I’ll likely never use again because technology has advanced quite a bit. Thankfully, USB-C seems to be here to stay since there is no wrong way to plug these things in. It’s not just smartphones, tablets, and laptops that use these, however, but also a long list of gadgets.

We’ve scoured the market for hidden gems: 14 gadgets that will make you think “Wow, I didn’t know I needed that, but it will make my life so much easier!” Let’s dive in and see what cool devices you’ll be able to use your type-C cables and ports with.

Unihand rechargeable hand warmers

Unihand

As the weather is getting colder, you sometimes wish you could warm up your hands a bit faster. Well, these $20 hand warmers are rechargeable and perfectly ready to keep your fingers toasty for up to 20 hours on a single charge. These gadgets feature a temperature sensor chip that helps you pick one of three temps for precise control. There are plenty of colors to choose from, too.

Firrax 74-in-1 mini electric screwdriver

If you often have to fiddle around with your computer or other gadgets, this Firrax mini electric screwdriver kit may be just what you need. This pen-shaped screwdriver features three LED lights so it’s easier to see what you’re working on. The screwdriver has a stylish base so you can hold it on your desk, and a whole collection of 64 S2 steel bits. The screwdriver can be charged via USB-C and it can last for hours — the manufacturer says it can drive over 500 screws before needing a recharge. This super fun electric screwdriver usually goes for $36, but can often be found on sale.

Anker Nano Power Bank

Anker

One thing you need to have in you bag/pocket/backpack is a power bank because you never really know when your phone will fail you and cry for a recharge. Well, the Anker Nano power bank is tiny enough to fit just about anywhere. It comes with a foldable USB-C connector and a port on the side so you can charge two devices at once if you need to. The 5,000mAh capacity is just about enough for a full phone recharge, so it will be great in a pinch. It’s also only $27.

Endoscope camera with light

Although it’s not something you’ll use every day, this USB-C endoscope camera can definitely come in handy. You just plug it in your phone, install and app, and see everything your camera does. Our team swears by it, using it for finding whatever they dropped behind the desk, while working on the car, or looking for pipe leaks. Since it has an IP67 rating, you can even plop it in your aquarium. The camera comes with a 16.4ft semi-rigid cable and several accessories, including a hook, magnet, and a mirror. You can get this one for $60 or less.

Blukar flashlight

Blukar

I don’t care who you are—you need a flashlight. The smaller, the better, because you get to shove it into any pocket. This model from Blukar comes with a built-in 1800mAh battery that you’ll recharge with one of those many type-C cables you have in that tech drawer we were talking about. It can work for up to 16 hours on a single charge, which is pretty decent. There are four different lightning modes to cycle through, including one that will help you signal for help. Plus, one of these is just $9, so no excuse to pass on this one.

Heat It insect bite healer

Anyone plagued by mosquitoes in the summer will be particularly pleased with this ingenious gadget. This tiny device, which can be easily connected to your smartphone via USB-C, can significantly reduce the itching of bites and stings with targeted heat.

You simply charge the small Heat It bite healer via the app and then hold it on the bite. The heat then does the rest, breaking down the proteins in the mosquito bite that cause the area to swell, itch, and hurt. A true must-have for summer, and it costs only $30.

A tiny air pump

Also perfect for summer is this small air pump from Cycplus, which fits in any bag while on the go. Not only can it inflate a bicycle tire in two minutes at the touch of a button, but it’s also USB-charged. According to the manufacturer, it’s suitable for mountain bikes, road bikes, motorcycles, and even cars!

In addition to being an air pump, this practical gadget can also be used as a flashlight or power bank for on-the-go use — all things that come in very handy on a bike ride. And at just $36, it’s highly recommended if you need quick help with a flat tire.

USB-C mini fan

These little fans are also pretty ingenious; you can easily carry them in your pocket in the summer and quickly use them whenever you need them. Anyone who’s ever sat on a crowded subway train in 30-degree heat and wished for at least a little fresh air will love this gadget.

The mini fan, which costs just $16, has a USB-C port and can be easily powered by power banks, computers, laptops, or USB chargers. There are even smaller and cheaper fans available that can be connected directly to your phone, costing under $10 each. But these also provide less powerful airflow, so we recommend the standalone version.

Reading light with a book clamp

Anyone who enjoys reading a lot, sometimes late into the night, will appreciate this little gadget: a reading lamp that you can simply clip onto your book. It may not be groundbreaking, but with a total of three color temperatures and five different light modes, you can individually adjust how much light you need for reading.

The Gritin reading lamp costs just $9 on Amazon and features a 1200 mAh battery that lasts up to 80 hours depending on usage. Afterward, you can easily recharge it via USB. You can swivel the neck of the lamp back and forth as desired, and there’s even a small charging indicator. What more could you want?

External DVD Drive

Amicool

If your laptop is like mine and lacks a DVD drive, then this little gadget will come in handy for you. This Amicool external DVD drive uses a USB-C (or USB-A) to connect to your laptop and give yout he optical drive you sometimes need. It can read and burn DVDs and CDs with ease, allowing you to install software, copy files, back up data, play games, and so on. You won’t even need to install drives as this thing is plug and play. While this thing’s usually $29, you can often get it for around $20, which is an absolute bargain.

Type-C microSD card reader

Ugreen

Most laptops nowadays don’t come with a card reader anymore (I know mine doesn’t), so finding other ways to get data off those little buggers is a must. Whether you need to pull data off your dashcam’s card or if it’s from your camera, this tiny Ugreen USB-C microSD reader will work just fine. This reader is tiny enough that you should probably put it on a keychain of some kind. If you’d rather a slightly more versatile version, Ugreen has a model that also works with SD cards and features both USB-C and USB-A connectors. Any of these will cost you less than $10, so they’re worthwhile investments.

USB-C to HDMI adapter

Anker

If your laptop has a USB-C port but you haven’t updated your monitor in ages, your display won’t feature a Type-C port. This Anker adapter fixes this problem for you, enabling you to connect the regular HDMI cable you plug in your monitor with this gadget. The adapter supports resolutions of up to 4K at 60Hz, which is pretty awesome. This is also a nifty way to connect your phone or tablet to your monitor or TV. This thing’s $17.

Electric Air Duster

Wolfbox

This tiny little thing is going to be such a useful gadget to have. Despite its size, it has quite a lot of power and you can use it easily to clean up crumbs from your keyboard and the dust from your PC tower, clean the vents in your car or the dryer lint trap, for instance — it’s great to use every once in a while. You can also use this tiny gadget to inflate mattresses when camping or your kid’s floaties. The best part is that you can use a regular USB-C cord to recharge it. This Wolfbox MF100 electric air duster is usually $90, but you can get it on sale quite often.

Measuring Tools

Hoto

This pocket-sized laser measuring tool will make your life so much easier because it’s sooooo compact. Whenever you take on any DIY projects, whether it’s anything serious or you’re just putting up a painting, this laser measuring tool will be useful. It has two measuring modes, it’s quite accurate, and features a hidden OLED display that tells you exactly what it measures and the battery life. It even comes with Bluetooth so you can record more data after connecting it to your phone. And of course, you can charge it with a USB-C cable. This Hoto tool is usually $45, but we’ve seen it on sale for closer to $30 quite often, especially if you have a Prime subscription.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on May 16, 2025, but was updated to include additional devices.